Prediction: Burnley vs Fulham

Verdict: Both teams to score

Best odds: 1.68

Bookmaker: ZetBet

Burnley will host Fulham hoping to get a much-needed win that will keep their survival hopes alive. The game will be played at Turf Moor in front of 21, 000 fans.

Burnley

The hosts suffered yet another heavy blow in the relegation battle on Wednesday night at the Etihad Stadium. It was the same disappointing performance by Kompany’s players that led to their 16th league defeat. Although they displayed recovery signs in the second half of the game, Manchester City proved too strong for Burnley to turn around the 2-0 halftime deficit.

Today’s hosts need to accumulate points quickly considering we are already in the second half of the season. The Clarets occupy 19th place with only 12 points won in 22 rounds. Although results over the last period have been below expectations, the players coached by Vincent Kompany are still only 7 points away from safety.

Burnley are not doing very well at Turf Moor, where they won a single Premier League game this season. With 4 points under their belt, the hosts are the weakest side in the home-played games. Their upcoming schedule in front of their fans is infernal, welcoming leaders Liverpool and Arsenal to Turf Moor. A win against Fulham becomes imperative considering the minimal chances given to get a positive result against the Gunners and the Premier League leaders.

Team News

Vincent Kompany doesn’t have any major injury concerns. Luca Koleosho, the young and talented left winger is the only player out after suffering a knee injury in December.

Trafford will try to perform better than he did at Etihad where he conceived 3 goals. Lyle Foster needs to up his game in front of the opposition’s box, scoring only once since his mid-December return.

Fulham

Fulham are having a modest season, finding themselves at the bottom half of the table. The recent disappointing results have taken the side coached by Marco Silva just 7 points from the relegation zone. It seems that December’s busy schedule did not suit his players who performed below expectations.

The Cottagers pulled only 2 draws in their last 5 competitive games, a somewhat expected fall considering the opponents in these games. Liverpool, Chelsea and Newcastle proved too strong for Fulham to get a positive result against such top sides.

On top of that, the goalless draw against Everton was yet another disappointing performance for the London side. Fulham are one of the weakest teams in the games played on the road, winning only one Premier League game (1-0 at Goodison Park against Everton).

Marco Silva needs a better presentation from his players who are facing tough opponents in February. Following the trip to Burnley, Bournemouth, Manchester United and Aston Villa are Fulham’s decisive games in this month. Failing to win in any of these tricky fixtures could send Fulham into an unexpected survival fight.

Team News

Marco Silva will have a headache in lining up a strong team against Burnley considering the list of unavailable players. Besides key players being out with injuries, Fulham is also without players called by national teams for the Africa Cup of Nations (Alex Iobi and Calvin Bassey).

Adama Traore has been out since mid-November with a hamstring injury. His recovery is going slow with an unknown expected return. Harry Wilson has joined him in the recovery room following the shoulder injury sustained in the FA Cup match against Newcastle.

Key factors to consider

• Burnley is being involved in a survival battle sitting 19th in the table with 12 points after 22 games
• Vincent Kompany’s side won only one Premier League home match this season (5-0 against Sheffield United)
• The hosts scored only once in the last 3 games played on Turf Moor
• Fulham has a few key players unavailable to make the Burnley trip due to injuries and the AFCON tournament
•  With a difficult February schedule, Marco Silva’s team is in danger of slipping further down the bottom half of the table
• The visitors failed to win on Turf Moor in their 8 matches played  (L6D2)

Conclusion

Burnley and Fulham will go for a win hoping to improve their standings at the end of the round. Both teams showed weakness defensively, so a game with goals scored at both ends is a very plausible scenario. The hosts need to start picking up points being involved in a fierce relegation battle while the visitors also dropping down in the table after the latest disappointing displays.

Verdict: Both teams to score

Best odds: 1.68

Bookmaker: ZetBet